3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.' [b]"
[b] Micah 5:2,4
I can't remember who King Herod is and what his significance is other than being the King in Jerusalem. Anyone fill in those details?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Gospel of Matthew - VII
Matthew 2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
[a] Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
The link below is for the text below that. The story is quite familiar but I thought that a summary of it was a good idea.
http://bible.cc/matthew/2-1.htm
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 2. The Wise Men. The Star in the East. The King of the Jews. Herod and Jerusalem Troubled. Christ to be Born in Bethlehem. Herod's Demand of the Wise Men. The Star Over the Young Child. Gifts Laid at His Feet. Joseph Warned in a Dream. Flight into Egypt. The Massacre of the Children. Rachel Weeping. Joseph Called to Return. The Home in Galilee. The City of Nazareth,
When Jesus was born. Though the home of Joseph and Mary was Nazareth, prophecy had declared that Christ should be born at Bethlehem, the native place of David; and this was accomplished by the agency of the Roman emperor. See PNT Lu 2:1. The pride of the Jews in their genealogies would lead them to the head cities of their families; thus, Mary traversed with her husband the length of the land, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, to whose house they both belonged.
In Bethlehem of Judaea. Bethlehem was one of the oldest places in the land of Judea, and had been in existence at least 1,500 years before the Savior was born. It was the scene of events so touchingly related in the Book of Ruth. It was known as the city of David, because it was his birthplace. The little town has an imposing aspect and commanding site. It stands on the summit of a narrow ridge, which projects eastward from the central mountain chain of Judah. It is about six miles south of Jerusalem, on the road toward Hebron. It contains at the present time about four thousand inhabitants, chiefly Christians of the Greek Church, who obtain much of their sustenance from the sale of relics to pilgrims and visitors.
In the days of Herod the king. This statement gives data for ascertaining the time of the birth of Jesus. It is conceded that it took place in the last year of Herod's reign. But it is known that Herod died about three years before the first year of our era. Therefore, if the Savior was born in the days of king Herod, he must have been about four years earlier than the date assigned. Herod was only partly of Jewish blood, was a man of most bloody and unscrupulous character, a great tyrant, the murderer of even his own wife and sons. Seven of the Herods are named in the New Testament. (1) Herod the king, here named, called by Josephus Herod the Great, the first of the Herodian kings, a man of great force of character, but a bloody tyrant. He held his royal authority by the appointment of the Romans. (2) Herod Archelaus, his son and successor in Judea (Mt 2:22). The Romans deposed him and appointed a Roman governor in his stead. (3) Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, who slew John the Baptist (Mt 14:1). Also a son of Herod the Great. (4) Herod Philip, a third son, the lawful husband of Herodias (Mt 14:3). (5) Another son, also named Herod Philip. He is only referred to in the New Testament in Lu 3:1 (6) Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, named in Ac 12:1-3,23. (7) Herod Agrippa, the son of the last, the King Agrippa before whom Paul made his famous defense (Ac 25:13,23 26:27).
There came wise men from the east. The word rendered wise men is more correctly Magi, a term which designates an order of priests and philosophers which belonged originally to Persia and Media, and who were extensively distributed over the region of the Euphrates. Those described in the book of Daniel as wise men, astrologers and magicians, belonged to this order. We can only conjecture where these wise men came from, but the probability is that they journeyed from the valley of the Euphrates.
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
[a] Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
The link below is for the text below that. The story is quite familiar but I thought that a summary of it was a good idea.
http://bible.cc/matthew/2-1.htm
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 2. The Wise Men. The Star in the East. The King of the Jews. Herod and Jerusalem Troubled. Christ to be Born in Bethlehem. Herod's Demand of the Wise Men. The Star Over the Young Child. Gifts Laid at His Feet. Joseph Warned in a Dream. Flight into Egypt. The Massacre of the Children. Rachel Weeping. Joseph Called to Return. The Home in Galilee. The City of Nazareth,
When Jesus was born. Though the home of Joseph and Mary was Nazareth, prophecy had declared that Christ should be born at Bethlehem, the native place of David; and this was accomplished by the agency of the Roman emperor. See PNT Lu 2:1. The pride of the Jews in their genealogies would lead them to the head cities of their families; thus, Mary traversed with her husband the length of the land, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, to whose house they both belonged.
In Bethlehem of Judaea. Bethlehem was one of the oldest places in the land of Judea, and had been in existence at least 1,500 years before the Savior was born. It was the scene of events so touchingly related in the Book of Ruth. It was known as the city of David, because it was his birthplace. The little town has an imposing aspect and commanding site. It stands on the summit of a narrow ridge, which projects eastward from the central mountain chain of Judah. It is about six miles south of Jerusalem, on the road toward Hebron. It contains at the present time about four thousand inhabitants, chiefly Christians of the Greek Church, who obtain much of their sustenance from the sale of relics to pilgrims and visitors.
In the days of Herod the king. This statement gives data for ascertaining the time of the birth of Jesus. It is conceded that it took place in the last year of Herod's reign. But it is known that Herod died about three years before the first year of our era. Therefore, if the Savior was born in the days of king Herod, he must have been about four years earlier than the date assigned. Herod was only partly of Jewish blood, was a man of most bloody and unscrupulous character, a great tyrant, the murderer of even his own wife and sons. Seven of the Herods are named in the New Testament. (1) Herod the king, here named, called by Josephus Herod the Great, the first of the Herodian kings, a man of great force of character, but a bloody tyrant. He held his royal authority by the appointment of the Romans. (2) Herod Archelaus, his son and successor in Judea (Mt 2:22). The Romans deposed him and appointed a Roman governor in his stead. (3) Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, who slew John the Baptist (Mt 14:1). Also a son of Herod the Great. (4) Herod Philip, a third son, the lawful husband of Herodias (Mt 14:3). (5) Another son, also named Herod Philip. He is only referred to in the New Testament in Lu 3:1 (6) Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, named in Ac 12:1-3,23. (7) Herod Agrippa, the son of the last, the King Agrippa before whom Paul made his famous defense (Ac 25:13,23 26:27).
There came wise men from the east. The word rendered wise men is more correctly Magi, a term which designates an order of priests and philosophers which belonged originally to Persia and Media, and who were extensively distributed over the region of the Euphrates. Those described in the book of Daniel as wise men, astrologers and magicians, belonged to this order. We can only conjecture where these wise men came from, but the probability is that they journeyed from the valley of the Euphrates.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Gospel of Matthew - VI
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
I ask myself again, 'Can I do what He commands me to do?' How strong is my faith to be able to risk everything to complete the tasks that he assigns to me. What if He wants me to quit my job and work with the poor somewhere. I risk losing everything I have (material posses ions like house, car, credit rating) and becoming just as poor as those I serve. I know that Jesus had nothing when he was alive (materials wise at least) but I have a hard time imagining living like that. Would it be harder in today's world to live like that? Was it easier in His time to eke out a living? I think we can only pray and be still so that we clearly hear what He is telling us to do. Go forward with that knowing that He will ensure we don't suffer more than needed.
I ask myself again, 'Can I do what He commands me to do?' How strong is my faith to be able to risk everything to complete the tasks that he assigns to me. What if He wants me to quit my job and work with the poor somewhere. I risk losing everything I have (material posses ions like house, car, credit rating) and becoming just as poor as those I serve. I know that Jesus had nothing when he was alive (materials wise at least) but I have a hard time imagining living like that. Would it be harder in today's world to live like that? Was it easier in His time to eke out a living? I think we can only pray and be still so that we clearly hear what He is telling us to do. Go forward with that knowing that He will ensure we don't suffer more than needed.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Gospel of Matthew - V
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" [a] (which means "God with us").
[a]Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you [c] a sign: The virgin [d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and [e] will call him Immanuel. [f]
Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and he or and they
Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
A prophecy was proclaimed through the prophet. It was through Mary to come true. Imagine the magnitude of awe and honour that Mary and Joseph felt and experienced. Often in literature I read about us fulfilling God's prophecies. Except with us it may not be in such a large magnitude. We know however that the work of many hands creates wondrous things. Imagine if all of us took the time to listen and hear what He wants us to do. Imagine that wondrous work that would be accomplished if we all followed through. Today's world is filled with noise and I struggle daily with filtering it all out to focus on what it is He wants from my life.
[a]Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you [c] a sign: The virgin [d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and [e] will call him Immanuel. [f]
Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and he or and they
Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
A prophecy was proclaimed through the prophet. It was through Mary to come true. Imagine the magnitude of awe and honour that Mary and Joseph felt and experienced. Often in literature I read about us fulfilling God's prophecies. Except with us it may not be in such a large magnitude. We know however that the work of many hands creates wondrous things. Imagine if all of us took the time to listen and hear what He wants us to do. Imagine that wondrous work that would be accomplished if we all followed through. Today's world is filled with noise and I struggle daily with filtering it all out to focus on what it is He wants from my life.
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Gospel of Matthew - IV
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, [a] because he will save his people from their sins."
[a] Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.
Is this a hint of what is to come? God is asking Joseph to love Mary despite the apparent fault of becoming pregnant by someone other than himself. Can we in today's world imagine this. If your wife ( or husband brought home a child from another woman that he fathered) were in this situation could you do the same? It is a powerful indication of what He will come to teach us. It makes me wonder what was going through his mind during such a troubling time. It awes me at the power of God to set such a powerful message in motion.
[a] Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.
Is this a hint of what is to come? God is asking Joseph to love Mary despite the apparent fault of becoming pregnant by someone other than himself. Can we in today's world imagine this. If your wife ( or husband brought home a child from another woman that he fathered) were in this situation could you do the same? It is a powerful indication of what He will come to teach us. It makes me wonder what was going through his mind during such a troubling time. It awes me at the power of God to set such a powerful message in motion.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Gospel of Matthew - III
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about [a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
[a] Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
Reading the verses above in today's times must bring up some 'wtf''s. In todays world David would have been calling Jerry Springer to get a blood test and spew his story to the under bellies of the world. Although Mary may have been labelled some unfavourable names in our times what would have happened to her if David wasn't quiet? If anyone who is up on their history knows fill me in.
[a] Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
Reading the verses above in today's times must bring up some 'wtf''s. In todays world David would have been calling Jerry Springer to get a blood test and spew his story to the under bellies of the world. Although Mary may have been labelled some unfavourable names in our times what would have happened to her if David wasn't quiet? If anyone who is up on their history knows fill me in.
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